For Turrets Tops, an original outdoor commission, Leeza Meksin created two life-sized replicas of deCordova’s iconic Museum building turrets in the Park. Draping these towering conical forms with vibrantly colored neoprene, Meksin combines textile patterns and ornamental architectural details to articulate connections between the fashions we use to cover our bodies and the dwellings we inhabit. The installation encourages visitors to recognize assumptions about clothing and gender, architecture and ornament that filter into our daily lives.

PLATFORM is a series of one-person commissioned projects by early- and mid-career artists from New England, national, and international art communities that engage with deCordova’s unique landscape. The PLATFORM series lets artists expand their practice and visitors experience new approaches to contemporary sculpture.

PLATFORM 25 was generously funded in part by the Coby Foundation and a Columbia University Provost Grant for Junior Faculty. Special thanks to Show Shop and Bent Productions for aiding with the design, fabrication, and installation.

Read an interview with Leeza Meksin, in which she discusses the inspiration behind and creation process of Turret Tops, here.

Meksin was born 1977 in Moscow, Russia. She earned a BA and MA from The University of Chicago, IL in 2000, a BFA from The School of the Art¬ Institute of Chicago in 2005, and an MFA from Yale University, New Haven, CT in 2007. She has exhibited her artwork and large-scale architectural installations at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY; The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City; Lenfest Center for the Arts, Columbia University; and The Kitchen, New York. She is Assistant Professor of Art at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York.

Neoprene Workshop with Artist Leeza Meksin
Saturday, August 24, 2–5 pm
Join PLATFORM artist Leeza Meksin for an all-ages outdoor workshop exploring neoprene, the popular fabric used for scuba gear, shape wear, mouse pads, and much more. Practice new ways of testing your creativity with different fabrics and learn more about Meksin's new Turret Tops installation. Free with admission or membership; registration required.REGISTER